Method for manufacturing an interior lining part and corresponding part

ABSTRACT

A method for manufacturing an interior lining part, includes producing a skin; placing the skin in a foaming mold with a support layer; foaming an intermediate layer; cutting out an area of the skin producing a cutout area of the skin; placing a piece of adhesive tape or film in the cutout area, the piece of adhesive tape or film being placed in between the skin and the intermediate foam layer; and placing an insert in the cut out area of the skin. A method for manufacturing an interior lining part, includes producing a skin by rotational molding; placing a piece of adhesive tape or film in the cutout area, the piece of adhesive tape or film being placed in between the skin and the intermediate foam layer; placing the skin in a foaming mold with a support layer; foaming an intermediate layer; cutting out an area of the skin producing a cutout area of the skin; and placing an insert in the cut out area of the skin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. Patent Application is a Divisional Patent Application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/446,014, filed Jul. 29, 2014 entitled“Method for Manufacturing an Interior Lining Part and CorrespondingPart,” which claims priority to French Patent Application No. 1357483,filed Jul. 29, 2013 entitled “Method for Manufacturing an InteriorLining Part and Corresponding Part,” the entire disclosure of theapplication being considered part of the disclosure of this applicationand hereby incorporated by reference. The present application alsoclaims the priority of French Patent Application No. 1357483.

BACKGROUND

The trim or lining parts referenced in this disclosure include a surfaceskin that is flexible to the touch, an intermediate layer made of afoamed or cellular substance, and a rigid support layer.

In various implementations of trim or lining parts, one may integrateone or more additional surface element(s) partially or completelyembedded in the thickness of the surface skin (flush or projectingelement). The addition of such may be provided for decorative and/orfunctional reasons.

Vehicle users and manufacturers demand certain preferences, which mayfrustrate production. The demands may be related to aesthetic, technicaland economic constraints and/or demands. For example, the demands may berelated to:

-   -   providing an embedding as well as an optimal finish between the        flexible skin and the additional elements added to the surface        in the skin with zero gap between the skin and each element        (absence of a visible groove, mounting with zero tolerance) and        with an effect of continuity on the visible surface of the part        (if applicable, perfectly flush between the surface of the skin        and the surface of the additional element);    -   providing an option of variations in terms of appearance, shape        and material for the additional elements, without impacting the        production tools, particularly the skin shaping mold (which is a        shell for producing the skin by the so-called “slush” method or        by spraying of PU) and the foaming mold;    -   being able to attach additional elements even when the        configuration, the topology and/or the local geometry of the        part is/are unfavorable for such attachment in an obvious        manner;    -   being able to reduce or limit the complexity of the        manufacturing method;    -   being able to reduce the costs of the tools and/or the cost        prices of the parts;    -   being able to put in place a plurality (two, three, four or        more) of additional elements at separate or even mutually        distant sites, even when these elements are of small size;    -   being able to produce parts with and without additional element        in the same foaming mold (or with minimal modification of the        latter) and/or without additional element in the mold for        shaping the skin with just-in-time production management.

Various techniques are already known that make it possible to mountadditional elements, in the form of surface inserts, on parts of theabove-mentioned type.

For example, in document WO 2013/026571, a method for producing aninterior lining part formed by a support body covered with a decorativelayer is disclosed.

The support body has an indented area produced by molding or obtained bydeformation to receive by insertion an additional element having acomplementary shape. The integral securing of this insert is carried outor reinforced by an anchoring points that engages in the material of thesupport body.

However, this involves a different mold shape for each different shapeof additional element or each different installation site for theseelements. In addition, the additional elements comprise beveled sidewalls and the support body becomes fragile due to the installation ofanchoring points.

In another example, in document FR 2 937 276, a method for manufacturinga dashboard comprising a decorative element is disclosed. In the contextof this method, a skin is first formed in a shaping mold with creationof an indentation or of a recess, by placement of a functional insert.This formed skin is then transferred to a foaming mold in which theintermediate foam layer is produced and the functional insert is thenreplaced by a decorative insert having the same shape.

Nevertheless, the replacement of the inserts is possible only forparticular shapes and it does not make it possible to guarantee zeroperipheral interstices between the final insert and the skin, or areliable maintaining of said final decorative insert over time.

In another example, in document WO 2010/046600, a method is known formanufacturing dashboards of the type mentioned in the introduction, inwhich the additional element in the form of a decorative part is mountedin a cut out portion of the skin.

Specifically, the additional element includes a peripheral shoulderwhich abuts against the internal or back wall of the skin, along thecontour of the cut-out produced beforehand in the latter.

The skin provided with this element is then arranged in the foaming moldto produce the intermediate layer.

This solution requires the presence of a shoulder over the entireperiphery of the additional element, which constitutes a majormanufacturing constraint and limits the possible shapes for theadditional element. In addition, it is no longer possible to guaranteethe sealing of the cut-out, since it depends both on the positioning ofthe additional element in the cut and on the manner in which the foamingdevelops during the manufacturing of the intermediate layer.

Also disclosed is a technique for mounting on the surface functionaland/or decorative inserts by encapsulation of the latter by the skin (atechnique called “inskin” and described in particular in the document FR2 894 868).

This technique consists of heating the skin before arranging it in thefoaming mold, the insert having been arranged beforehand between theskin and the wall of the mold. Then, the skin is applied by suctionagainst the wall in such a manner that the insert becomes embedded inthe skin. The manufacturing of the part is then completed by foaming theintermediate layer.

This technical solution may not be employed for certain skin moldingtechnologies when the base material is a powder (for example, theso-called “slush molding” method) or an excessively fluid chemicalsubstance (for example, spraying of PU), or when the mold has to bebrought to a high temperature (for example, “slush molding”: 300° C.),or when the skin shaping mold has to perform prohibitory movements (forexample, rotation in rotational molding for “slush molding”).

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments of the present invention may relate to an interiorlining part, in particular for an automotive interior. The interiorlining part can include a surface skin, an intermediate foam layer, anda support layer. The interior part can have at least one decorative orfunctional area integrated on its surface, on a cut out area of theskin. Each cutout area can have a bottom with an adhesive strip or film.The skin cutout area can define the bottom facing the intermediate foamlayer. The piece of adhesive tape or film can have a dimension greaterthan the cutout area. The piece of adhesive tape or film can abut abottom of the skin adjacent the cutout area, and can be applied with anadhesive connection to a back of the skin.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription that follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the consecutive operating steps a)to e) of a method for manufacturing an interior trim or lining part.

FIG. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the consecutive operating steps a)to e) of a method for manufacturing an interior trim or lining partaccording to another embodiment.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood torefer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative sizeand depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The aspects disclosed herein overcome at least some and preferably allthe disadvantages discussed in the Background, by proposing a simple andflexible technique for obtaining parts of the above-mentioned type thatare provided with at least one decorative and/or functional surfaceinsert. An insert may be any sort of decorative decal or object placedinto a molding of an interior panel, for example, an automobile panel.The aspects disclosed herein satisfy some if not all of the demandsenumerated above in the Background section.

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the consecutive operating steps a)to e) of the method for manufacturing an interior trim or lining part.

This type of part 1 includes a surface skin 2 (flexible and soft to thetouch), an intermediate layer 3 made of a foamed or cellular substance,and a support layer 4 (which may be rigid). As shown in FIG. 1, part 1integrates at least one decorative and/or functional insert 5 on thesurface. t insert 5 is visible due to the skin 2 opposing a viewer, andis embedded in the skin 2.

The method consists in producing the skin 2 (formed in accordance withthe surface topology of the part 1), then placing the skin 2 in afoaming mold with the support layer 4, which leads to foaming employedto produce the intermediate layer 3. The method also includes a cuttingout the skin 2 and placing the insert 5 in the area 6 of skin 2 (afterthe removal of the cut out portion 6′).

The method may include a step of placing a piece 7 of adhesive tape orfilm in the skin area 6 intended to receive the insert 5, on the surface2′ of the skin 2 directed toward the intermediate foam layer 3, saidpiece 7 of adhesive tape or film constituting the bottom 8′ of thecavity or indentation 8 defined after the removal of the cut out skinportion 6′.

Thus, the aspects disclosed herein ensure reliable and lastingsecurement of the insert 5, and a reliable and controlled sealing duringthe foaming phase (preventing the rise of foam into the indentation 8).Further, the aspects disclosed herein prevent the infiltration of waterfrom outside in the direction of the intermediate layer 3.

In addition, the aspects disclosed herein allows for all shapes, sizesor numbers of the single added insert 5 or of the plurality of addedinserts 5.

The piece 7 of adhesive tape or film may have a shape adapted to anddimensions greater than the cut out skin portion 6′, in such a mannerthat after the removal of the cut out skin portion 6′, the piece of tapeor film 7 extends beyond the bottom 8′ of the indentation 8 and isapplied with adhesive connection on the back surface of the edges 9 ofthe cut-out in the skin 2.

The width of the peripheral area of the piece 7 that comes in contactwith adhesive integral securing against the edges 9 can be adapted tothe size of the indentation 8.

The piece 7 can extend as a single piece clearly beyond the edges 9,possibly over the entire back surface of the skin 2 or at least over aback surface area covering all the cut out areas of the skin (in thecase of a plurality) or at least several such areas.

Piece 7 from a tape or film may be provided so that it is adhesive atcold temperature, on one side or on both sides, and which comprisesadvantageously a support material (plastic sheet, woven or nonwovenmaterial) suitable for constituting, on the one hand, a barrier that isa sealed barrier (at least with respect to the foamed product) betweenthe internal volume of the indentation 8 of the skin 2 and theintermediate foam layer 3 and/or, on the other hand, a bottom 8′ for theindentation 8 whose configuration allows contact with the back surface5′ of insert 5, and may be in a substantially flat configuration.

In order to provide a resistant integral securing of the insert 5 in theindentation 8, and/or in order to compensate for the loss of an adhesiveagent following the removal of the cut out skin portion 6′, the backsurface 5′ of the insert 5, which is applied against the bottom 8′ ofthe indentation 8 of the skin 2 formed by a central part of the piece ofadhesive tape or film 7, as well as optionally the side edges of saidinsert 5, can be provided with a layer of an adhesive substanceidentical to or at least compatible with the adhesive agent of saidpiece of adhesive tape or film 7.

In a supplementary or alternative manner and still for the purpose ofoptionally increasing the strength of the connection between the insert5 and the part 1, it is possible to provide a piece of adhesive tape orfilm 7 whose properties of connection of its surface directed toward theintermediate foam layer 3, of its peripheral areas coming in contactwith the edges 9 of the skin 2 delimiting the cut out area correspondingto the indentation 8 and/or of its surface coming in contact with theinsert 5, is/are at least partially reinforced during the foaming of theintermediate layer 3.

In accordance with a first practical embodiment variant of the methodaccording to the invention, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, after theskin 2 has been produced, for example, by rotational molding or byspraying on a nickel shell (“PU spray”: spraying of PU—PolyUrethane)(step a), said method can consist of placing the piece of adhesive tapeor film 7 on the non-visible back surface 2′ of the skin 2, in the skinarea 6 intended to receive the insert 5 (step b), producing theintermediate layer 3 by foaming (step c), then cutting out the skin 2along a predetermined line, without cutting out the pieces of underlyingadhesive tape or film 7, then removing the cut out portion 6′ (step d)to clear the cavity or indentation 8 (step d′), and, finally arrangingthe insert 5 in said indentation 8 (step e).

The resulting formed part 1 is then extracted from the mold andsubjected to additional finishing operations (for example, deburring,trimming, etc).

The shape of the portion 6′ may be carried out by punching in the mold,and in another example, the shape of the portion 6′ may be carried outby laser cutting during the finishing phase.

FIG. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the consecutive operating steps a)to e) of the method for manufacturing an interior trim or lining partaccording to another embodiment disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 2, the skin 2 may have been produced by rotationalmolding or by spraying on a nickel shell (“PU spray”: spraying ofPU—PolyUrethane) (step a). Then skin 2 may be cut along a predeterminedline, and the cut out skin portion 6′ may be removed (step b) to clearan opening corresponding to the volume of the indentation 8. The methodmay also include placing the piece of adhesive tape or film 7 on thenon-visible back surface 2′ of the skin 2, in such a manner as to formthe bottom 8′ of said indentation 8 (step c), arranging the insert 5 insaid indentation (step d), and carrying out the foaming of theintermediate layer 3 on layer 4 (step e).

As above, after the end of the foaming, the part 1 is extracted andsubjected to finishing operations.

In order to achieve a high quality finish, it is possible to provide forpositioning the insert 5, in the foaming mold, by embedding in theopening in the skin 2 cleared after the removal of the cut out skinportion 6′ and by applying with contact said insert 5 against the wallof the mold, the latter being provided locally with a recessed orprojecting formation, when the insert 5 has a visible surfacerespectively protruding or recessed relative to the surface of the skin2, said formation being produced in or on the wall of the mold orprovided by a pad or block added to said wall.

Alternatively to the successive steps c) and d) of the second variant,it is also possible to provide for the placement of the insert 5 in theopening formed after the removal of the cut out portion 6′ of the skin 2to be carried out before or simultaneously with the placement of thepiece of adhesive tape or film 7, by introduction through the backsurface 2′ of the skin 2.

Advantageously and still in connection with the second embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2, all the operating steps or phases after theproduction of the skin 2 or at least after the phase of cutting out theskin 2, are carried out in the mold for foaming the intermediate layer3.

The cutting out of the skin 2 may be carried out by punching or stampingfor indentation contours 8 having a simple shape or by cutting out witha water jet or a laser beam for indentation contours 8 having a complexshape.

In the above description it is described in relation to the placement ofa single insert 5; however, a person skilled in the art understands thatthe invention can clearly be carried out with a plurality of inserts 5

In this context, it is then provided to produce several cavities orindentations 8 for receiving inserts 5 in the skin 2, by cutting out thelatter in several separate areas, and by placing, before or after thecutting out, pieces of adhesive tapes or films 7 having respectivelyadapted shapes at the site of the cut-outs obtained, on the back surface2′ of the skin 2, and in mounting in each indentation 8, in a laterallyadjusted manner, a corresponding insert 5 having a complementary shape.

The piece of adhesive tape or film 7 may also have a shape or so that itcan cover the totality of the different cut out areas.

The inserts 5 mounted in the skin 2 may be substantially flat, forexample, plate-shaped, structures with a thickness less than, equal to,or greater than that of the skin 2.

The inserts 5 May also comprise protruding or projecting formationsextending clearly beyond the surface of the skin 2.

The portion(s) 7 and said at least one insert or the plurality ofinserts 5 can be placed successively or in a single operation by asuitable device, for example, a tool (mounted on a robotic arm orhandled by an operator) or an end-of-arm gripper.

The aspects disclosed herein may be implemented along with an interiortrim or lining part 1, in particular for motor vehicles, including asurface skin 2, an intermediate layer 3 made of a foamed or cellularsubstance, and a support layer 4, said part 1 integrating, in addition,at least one decorative and/or functional insert 5 mounted in acorresponding surface indentation 8 defined by a cut out portion 6′ ofthe skin 2.

This part 1 includes an indentation 8 that includes a bottom 8′consisting of part of a piece of adhesive tape or film 7, added to thesurface 2′ of skin 2 directed toward the intermediate foam layer 3.

The part 1 is obtained by the manufacturing method described above andillustrated by the examples in FIGS. 1 and 2, said part 1 includingoptionally several surface indentations 8 in which corresponding inserts5 are mounted.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. An interior lining part, in particular for an automotive interiorcomprising: a surface skin; an intermediate foam layer; and a supportlayer; the interior part having at least one decorative or functionalarea integrated on its surface, on a cut out area of the skin, andwherein each cutout area has a bottom with an adhesive strip or film,wherein the skin cutout area defines the bottom facing the intermediatefoam layer, wherein the piece of adhesive tape or film has a dimensiongreater than the cutout area, and wherein the piece of adhesive tape orfilm abuts a bottom of the skin adjacent the cutout area, and is appliedwith an adhesive connection to a back of the skin.
 2. The interiorlining of claim 1, further comprising several cutout areas, withcorresponding inserts mounted therein.
 3. The interior lining of claim1, wherein the piece of adhesive tape or film has at least one and nomore than two adhesive faces, and including an integral support materialto make a tight barrier between an internal volume of the cut out areaof the skin and the intermediate foam layer.
 4. The interior lining ofclaim 1, further comprising a layer of an adhesive substance on a backsurface of the insert facing the intermediate foam layer, wherein theadhesive substance is identical to or at least compatible with anadhesive agent of the piece of adhesive tape or film.
 5. The interiorlining of claim 1, wherein the insert spans the entire cutout area andengages the exposed edge thereabout.
 6. The interior lining of claim 1,wherein the interior lining part is manufactured according to a method,the method comprising: producing the skin; cutting out and removing anarea of the skin producing an exposed edge defining the cutout area;placing a piece of the adhesive tape or film under the cutout area, thepiece of adhesive tape or film being placed directly under the skin.placing an insert in the cutout area with at least a portion of theinsert being surrounded by the exposed edge of the skin; and foaming theintermediate layer.
 7. The interior lining of claim 6, wherein thecutting the piece of adhesive tape or film out is performed in a coldtemperature, at least room temperature.
 8. The interior lining of claim6, wherein the piece of adhesive tape or film placed in the cutout areais at least partially reinforced in position within the cutout areaduring the foaming of the intermediate layer.
 9. The interior lining ofclaim 6, wherein the producing the skin is performed by rotationalmolding or slush molding.
 10. The interior lining of claim 6, whereinthe insert shows a recessed or projecting surface relative to the frontsurface of the skin, and the method further comprises positioning theinsert in the foaming mold, on a recessed or projecting surface of thefoaming mold, or using a removable element of the foaming mold.
 11. Theinterior lining of claim 6, the method further comprising positioningthe insert after a removal of the cutout portion of the skin before orsimultaneously with the placement of the piece of adhesive tape or film,by introducing it to a back surface of the skin.
 12. The interior liningof claim 6, wherein in the method each of the steps performed after thestep of making the skin or at least cutting out and removing an area ofthe skin is performed within the foaming mold.
 13. The interior liningof claim 6, wherein the cutting out of an area of the skin is performedvia a punching or stamping.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The interior lining ofclaim 6, wherein the cutting out of an area of the skin is performed viaa water jet or a laser beam.
 16. The interior lining of claim 6, themethod further comprising: making a plurality of cavities or recessed inthe skin to receive corresponding inserts, after cutting out andremoving the corresponding bottom of the areas of the skin; placing apiece of adhesive tape or film, with an appropriate shape for the skincutout areas, on the rear surface of the skin under each of the separatecutout areas, the piece of adhesive tape or film being placed in betweenthe skin and the intermediate foam layer; and placing an insert in eachof the separate cutout areas, the inserts having rather plate shape,with a thickness less than the thickness of the skin.